Ok. So I have an arthritic 14(15 in may) year old OTTB mare. I usually ride her in a french link snaffle, but I also ride western. We just to trail rides, mainly walk/trot/ a little cantering when she feels good.

Today I tried out a western hackamore. I used an english one on her, and she fought and tossed her head with me. I tried a braided rope S hack-she did not like that one one bit! Haha

And she really liked it! She was very light and responsive, and wasnt fighting me like she dose with the snaffle. There wasnt much of a need to switch, I just thought we would give it a try.

I heard this can be kind of harsh due to the long shanks. I have very light, still, hands, and use my back and shoulders for stopping power. I can tell she is much more relaxed in it, but what do you guys think? Constructive crit only please! I don't want to be bashed about it. Thank you!

If she is happy then it is good. I use a hack on my OTTB and she responds a lot better. It is different and it doesn't remind her of the track days. It is a different contact and if your horse is better with it then why not?

The harshness will actually vary depending on how tight or loose the curbstrap is, how wide it is and most of all on the hands of the person controlling it. Also, the lower it is the more the more the horse will react to pressure it puts on the nose (it is very dangerous and hamful to put it too low) and if it is placed too high the horse won't respond. This type of hackamore, unlike snaffles and english hackamores, puts no pressure on the poll which is an extremly sensitive area for some horses (it sounds like that may be the case with your girl).

And masatisan, I never knew that the hackamores put pressure on the poll. This is probably the issue with her. The curb chain is relatively loose, I can stick about 2 or 3 fingers between her chin and the chain. (its an old and connected by nylon, streched out a bit.) I have really light hands, my girl will go off leg yeilds, so the hands stay quiet. Ill have to get my trainer to check the positioning, i've only ridden her once in it and I could tell she is much happier!

The harshness will actually vary depending on how tight or loose the curbstrap is, how wide it is and most of all on the hands of the person controlling it. Also, the lower it is the more the more the horse will react to pressure it puts on the nose (it is very dangerous and hamful to put it too low) and if it is placed too high the horse won't respond. This type of hackamore, unlike snaffles and english hackamores, puts no pressure on the poll which is an extremly sensitive area for some horses (it sounds like that may be the case with your girl).

I'm confused. I've always understood, and I checked this out to be sure I understood correctly, that snaffles do not put pressure on the poll . Any leverage bit, hackamores both english and mechanical are leverage "bits" and do put pressure on the poll.

I was confused about that too. I know that type of hack uses poll pressure. The shanks don't swivel (if they didn't you wouldn't get any pressure anywhere) and by not swiveling they pull on both the nose piece and the headstall.

So I'm thinking about using a hackamore... because Splash responds good with the rope halter but not with the bit so well. But not good enought in the saddle with the rope halter..
So what would you attach the hackamore to?

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